Sam's First Christmas

We are coming to the end of Boxing Day here in Vancouver and we have all fully enjoyed the festive season, especially Sam. Santa had his photo taken with Sam a couple of days ago at the local shopping centre - to be honest Sam struggled to keep his gaze at the camera. Christmas Day started with a skype call with Granny and Grandad, followed by a short walk over to Scott M's apartment. Sam and I watched the Queen's speech on Youtube (as per photo) - as no gifts are open, until the Queen has spoken! Stocking presents and gifts were opened with Sam more fascinated by the wrapping paper then anything he was given. Sam's collection of plastic toys has grown over Christmas with a race track and a musical walker. Turkey Christmas dinner, supplied by the local Vancouver Hotel, was also a hit with everyone.

New York City with the Gang

This blog post is coming straight out of New York City at the end of a fantastic trip to the Big Apple, shared with my cousin Neil, Ross, Emily and Kris. Neil has moved here in the last few weeks for a new role with Citigroup. He is living downtown near ground zero and the newly constructed 9/11 memorial. The rest of us took the opportunity to stay with him for a pre-christmas gathering and a sightseeing tour of NYC.

With Neil at work for the first couple of days of our trip, the rest of us took the opportunity to cruise the streets of New York for the usual tourist highlights. We saw all the sights that you would expect, including Broadway, Central Park with Strawberry Fields, Brooklyn Bridge, Madison Square Garden, Wall Street, NY Stock Exchange, etc. Neil joined us at the weekend for walking along the Hi-Line, which is a renovated disused railway line through the west side of New York with some amazing views. We also fought through the crowds to see the Rockefeller Centre with its famous Christmas Tree.

However, the real highlights were the unexpected events that you cannot plan on such a city trip. On the first day, we were wandering through Central Park heading for Strawberry Fields. On reaching our destination we found an impromptu band signing Beatles tracks and Imagine by John Lennon. We soon realised that the gathered crowd was there to pay homage to John Lennon on the 31st anniversary of his death. It was a moving moment to share and only footsteps away from where John Lennon was shoot. On day two, we made a bee-line for the Trump Tower as part our city tour and by pure coincidence Donald Trump was in attendance doing a book signing. We got close enough for a photo opportunity and to see the big guy up close and in person. On the third day, there was a theme of people dressed up in Santa Claus outfits on the streets - literally hundreds of and hundreds of people. They all seemed to converge at different public locations in New York and we saw them in all their glory outside the public library. Crazy scenes, but everyone was in good spirits and celebrating the Christmas mood. Also Kris, Emily and myself took the opportunity to dance on the Big Piano at the store FAO Schwarz, straight out of the iconic scene in the film Big.

These highlights aside, the real joy for me was spending time with the gang and sharing numerous jokes and laughs along the way. It was enjoyable catching up and hearing all the latest news, but simply ribbing and teasing each other over the little things was a key part of the fun. Good times, but we have now all separated and heading back to our different corners of the world. My next stop is Toronto for three days of meetings at head office, certainly less fun.

Sam at 9 months Old

Just a quick update from Nancy to say that Sam had his 9 month check-up on Monday. All is well with him except for a mild abdominal separation (yep, just like a pregnant woman!), which will heal on its own with more core strength. He has had a recent growth spurt and has gone from being in the 40% for height to the 75%. His weight is now 24lbs and in the 90%. Our little boy has gone from being short and chunky to being a big Bruiser! A few photos from Sam's three week Maui holiday to share as well.

Pearl Harbour Trip

With Nancy and Sam returning from Hawaii this evening, I am taking some time out from my bachelor weekend to update the blog with some photos from my recent trip to Pearl Harbour. On the Wednesday on my holiday, I was up early to catch a 6am flight from Maui to Honolulu and watched the sunrise over the islands from my seat. A short taxi ride and I was a the entrance to Pearl Harbour, which continues to be a working US naval base.

The photos illustrate the USS Arizona memorial, which was one of the battleship to be sunk and destroyed by the Japanese in their surprise attack on Pearl Harbour. The day after the attack was when the Americans entered World War 2. This was certainly moving, but a major highlight for me was the visit to the USS Missouri which was the last battleship to be commissioned to the US Navy. It was also the site where World War 2 officially ended, as the delegation of the Japanese signed the unconditional surrender on the deck of this ship. So you could say that these two ships at Pearl Harbour are the book ends of WW2 for the Americans. Well worth a visit.

The Sun Keeps on Shining....

As I write this blog update, there are reports from friends and family back in Vancouver that it has been snowing in the last 24 hours. This weather is hard to imagine as I tap away at the laptop whilst my toes are slowly cooking in the Maui sunshine. I only have a day left before I step back on the airplane to return to Canada and so a good opportunity to reflect on the last week.

As you would expect it has been a very relaxing week, with the constant sound of the ocean waves rolling onto the beach outside our apartment. Some of the active highlights of the holiday were boogie boarding, paddle boarding, seeing giant sea turtles, drinking massive margaritas at the local bar, a fantastic sushi meal, sunsets, daily swims and morning beaches walks with Sam. On the topic of Sam, he seems to have really enjoyed himself after discovering sand for the first time and pretty quickly realising it is not for eating. He has been a constant source of smiles and entertainment, plus his swimming technique has continued to improve. I am very jealous that Nancy, Sam and Wendy get to stay on for their third week of Maui, but some of us have to keep the Canadian economy growing!

P.S. I will also update the blog with a post on my day trip to Honolulu and Pearl Harbour.

The First 24 Hours in Maui

It has been a while since my last blog post and the reason for this is that my whole focus in life recently has been to get through work and jump on a plane to Maui. Nancy, Sam and Wendy left for the Hawaiian Island last Sunday and are enjoying the sunshine for three weeks. This meant that I experienced the daily torture of getting updates/photos of Sam's first visit to the beach, trips to the swimming pool and general fun in the sun, whilst I was sitting in my office in rainy Vancouver.

I have now been here for just over 24 hours and sitting on the balcony with the sun rising behind me, warming the back of my neck. The ocean waves are in the background and a couple of palm trees are fluttering away in front of me. The first day involved waking up to an early morning session of yoga by the beach, brunch, a dip in the swimming pool with Sam and then a very short walk to swim in the Pacific ocean. Early evening involved a gin and tonic watching the magnificent sunset.

One of the minor highlights was the discovery of coconut M&Ms, which is a local treat in Hawaii. Emily and Kris brought me a packet from their recent visit as these are only available on the Islands. Nancy and I found a place nearby selling them and we indulged ourselves in the evening.

Halloween 2011

Halloween in my humble opinion is very much a North American holiday. In the UK there isn't a tradition of getting dressed up and gathering sweets and chocolate from strangers at this time of the year. However, in the spirit of the season Nancy invested in a Halloween costume for Sam which you can see in the photos. He seems to think it is great and it will be interesting to see how much candy he can collect with it. Also as the cold of winter creeps in.... Sam's Granny invested in a "beanie" hat or as the Canadians refer to it a "toque" for his head and ears.

Light the Night Walk 2011

As many of you will remember from last couple of years Nancy and Wendy have raised funds for the charity The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in memory of Bob. The culmination in October is the Light the Night walk to honor and support people battling blood cancers. This was the third time the family attended the walk and this year we had Kris and Emily join us along with a number of local friends.

Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration and the carrying of illuminated balloons - specifically with gold balloons in memory of loved ones lost to cancer was an amazing sight. Hundreds of people turned out last night and was certainly an evening to share memories.

Later in the evening, we all headed to the Player's house for a post-party when Nanaimo bars were on offer and many friends to chat with.

More Emily and Kris Fun

With Emily and Kris in town, enjoying the sights and sounds of the city - especially with good times being had while I am working at the office. As they are updating their travel blog, it saves me time by sharing their blog posts than creating my own. Check out this link which has some great photos, including Sam swimming.

http://jumpedupholiday.blogspot.com/2011/10/enjoying-sunshine-in-vancouver.html

Auntie Emily and Uncle Kris Arrive in Vancouver

Auntie Emily and Uncle Kris arrived in the early hours of Friday morning (4.32am to be precise) from Honolulu and I picked them up, while being half asleep. The highlight of the first twenty-four hours for them seems to have been meeting Sam for the first time in person. Sam was particularly happy with his gifts from his new housemates, which included a T-Shirt from Australia (see photo) and a Hawaiian outfit for next months holiday.

It is great having Emily and Kris stay with us and we celebrated in style with brunch at Cafe Zen, where they serve the best eggs benedict on the planet. This was followed by a leisurely stroll along Spanish Banks beach with a view of the city in the background. The Stanley Park seawall was on the agenda today and then a wander around the shops in Gastown, including a fantastic used book store, which was literally filled to the brim with books - certainly not stroller friendly for Sam.

More adventures and stories to follow in the next couple of weeks with Em and Kris in town.

Canadian Thanksgiving 2011

This weekend is my third Canadian Thanksgiving in Vancouver and obviously Sam's first, which was spent with the family - Scott M (and new girlfriend) as well as Betty. It was low key event, with a harvest full of food and wine at Scott's apartment and a good time had by all. Sam certainly enjoyed himself, although we had beef instead of turkey, so his first taste of turkey will have to wait.

Anyway, what are Canadians thankful for? The American thanksgiving holiday is famous for the celebration of the Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower ship landing on the East coast of the USA. Many Canadians are unsure on why they are thankful and receive a public holiday, especially as I ask a few of them the question at this time of the year. Thanks to Wikipedia, I discovered that the history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean. Frobisher's Thanksgiving was not for harvest but homecoming. He had safely returned from a search for the Northwest Passage, avoiding the later fate of Henry Hudson and Sir John Franklin who died.

I forgot to get some photos of our thanks giving meal, so enclosed is a recent photo of Sam enjoying one of his meals.

Sam's First Live Footy Match

Today, Sam experienced his first footy match live and in person, the Vancouver Whitecaps were playing against the Portland Timbers. Vancouver Whitecaps were playing in their new stadium with a retractable roof for the first time and they introduced it with a massive fanfare. In addition to the retractable roof, there were internal covers that block off the upper deck, and seats that pull out to field level to create a more intimate setting. Also the stadium has a new HD giant screen which is only second in size to the screen at the Dallas Cowboys stadium.

All of this stuff received positive reviews, but the Whitecaps look like a side that simply didn't have enough for this season. It was the visiting Portland Timbers who spoiled the Whitecaps’ B.C. Place launch. The Timbers won with a solitary goal, which was impressively taken from the edge of the penalty area.

Sam (with his head phones) watched the majority of the first half with wonderment, especially at the big screen. By the second half he was snoozing away, but awoke for the final ten minutes.

Sam Fix for September

Sam has now acquired his first high chair, so he can share his meals with the rest of the family at the dinner table. As you can see from the photos he is really pleased about this development especially as he is now eating solid food. Sam has swimming lessons on Tuesday lunchtimes and he has become quite adept at dunking his head underwater. I had the pleasure of accompanying him last week and good fun was had by all. At playgroup, Sam has discovered his first set of wheels and seems to enjoy the need for speed.

Spruce Meadows Event

The eyes of the horse jumping world were focused on Spruce Meadows in Calgary over the past weekend. This is because the best athletes from the world's top show jumping nations competed for top prize money and international acclaim during the Spruce Meadows 'Masters'. Well, that is what I was told when I was informed that I would be attending the event from Friday through to Sunday as the Mercedes-Benz representative. Mercedes-Benz was one of the main sponsors for event and so I was asked to show my face.

Apart from attending the horse jumping events and hosting Mercedes-Benz customers, I was involved in meeting the riders and awarding some of the winners with their medals. At the Saturday dinner, I rubbed shoulders with a number of dignitaries and sporting folk, including the British Commissioner to Canada and the new Superman actor. The evening highlight was also seeing the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers performing the theme from the Great Escape. My Sunday afternoon was spent watching the final "Masters" event, whilst being sat next to Bill Gates of Microsoft fame.

Sam Over Six Months

Sam is over six months old now and recently had his six-month checkup with the Doctor. He cruised through his injections with only a small whimper and the verdict was that he was fully healthy. He weighs in at over 19 pounds and is in the 75th per cent on the weight chart - the kid never misses a meal!

Sam has a new play area in the apartment designated by a colourful play mat with a couple of new toys to keep him entertained and developing. We needed to distract him as he discovered the Xbox on/off button with its green light.

Nancy Crosses the Tri Line

Sunday morning was an early start for Nancy as she woke at 4.45am to head off for the the start line of her triathlon. As many of you will know, Nancy has been training for the last fourteen weeks in the three disciplines of swimming, running and cycling with Team in Training, who are raising funds for a cancer charity. Nancy raised nearly $2000 for the cause and the overall group raised $40,000, so thank you to everyone that sponsored her.

After her early morning wake-up call, Nancy was ready and waiting for the starting gun on Second Beach in Stanley Park. By the time, myself and Sam had woken up, had breakfast and walked to the beach we made it just at the moment that Nancy was finishing her 750 meter ocean swim. We heard the announcer call her name and watched her transition to her bike for the second stage. There was perfect weather for such a feat of endurance with wall to wall sunshine, but the ocean was still cold. Sam and I continued to cheer the other competitors, whilst we waited for Nancy to return from her 20 KM cycle ride around Stanley Park. We cheered Nancy as she returned her bike for the last stage of a 5 KM run and then made our way to the finishing line. Admittedly, Sam had a snooze at this point but I woken him up just in time to see his Mum cross the line at just over two hours, and pick up her medal.

Great performance by Nancy as she beat her estimated time by five minutes and we are so proud of her. Sam made sure that his Mum received a big hug at the end, as you can see from the photo. So what next for Nancy's sporting prowess?

Sam Flies for the First Time

This past weekend Sam, Nancy and Wendy took a trip to sunny Manitoba to attend the 85th birthday of Leona Foster. Leona is the older sister of Bob and lives in Winnipeg. This was not only Sam's first flight but while he was away he had his six-month birthday. According to reports Sam was particularly fussy and loud for the first ten minutes of the flight and didn't initially make friends with the other passengers, but once the plane had taken off he settled in. The weekend involved visiting all the extended Marks family and for a number of Sam hugs. Sam has now officially started his world travels and he has Maui to look forward to in November.

Mum and Dad Holiday in Vancouver

As per my last blog post, Mum and Dad arrived into Vancouver for a week's holiday and to delight in all what Vancouver had to offer. This was their first time in the city since our wedding in 2008 and it was also their first time meeting Sam in person. We certainly filled their time with various activities, including walks round the seawall, a visit to the 9 O'Clock gun, visit to Gas Town, cycle rides, swimming with Sam, which meant that everyone was tired come the end of the day.

Some of the highlights were a visit to the top of Grouse Mountain, where we saw a lumber jack show, bird of prey display, a ride on the mountain chairlift to the peak and also seeing the resident bears - one of them aptly named "Grinder". On the same afternoon, I took my parents to the Capilano suspension bridge for the adrenalin rush of crossing the valley like Indiana Jones. The new Cliff Walk was also open for our visit and so we had an excellent experience.

A funny little moment was at the local fuel station, where Dad and I were pumping up the tires up on our bicycles, and waiting for the air supply was a gentleman with his Rolls Royce Phantom. Dad was fascinated and helped the driver with his car, all in his bicycle helmet!

Mum and Dad enjoyed their Vancouver visit, especially meeting Sam, and have now moved onto Washington DC for the second leg of their holiday. Ross, Laura and kids have the privilege of their company for the next week.

The Egyptian Head has Arrived (oh Mum and Dad here as well)

My Mum and Dad arrived safe and sound into Vancouver on Wednesday evening, following the ten and half hour flight from terminal five at Heathrow.

After many others (Emily and Anthony) turned down the opportunity to bring out one of my prized possessions from the UK, my parents provided me with the pleasant surprise of unveiling my Egyptian Head from their bags.

I bartered for this statue back in August 2000 in Cairo and dragged it back to the UK in my hand luggage. However, since moving to Canada it has been gathering dust in a loft in Milton Keynes. I'm so happy that we have been reunited again and all thanks to my parents and a trans-Atlantic flight. I should point out that the head easily weighs 7 lbs or 3.2 kgs and was approximately one eighth of their luggage allowance. Just when they thought the loft was empty, the task now is to find my Maldivian carved wooden statue! Any volunteers??

The Footy Season has Started

The football (soccer) season has now officially started with the first round of Premier League fixtures being held last weekend in England. Fulham FC started with a solid draw against Aston Villa, but it meant that we as a family could enjoy BBC's Match of the Day together. As you can see from the photo, Sam soon gained an appreciation not just for the football but also for Gary Lineker.

The start of the season is also when the fantasy football begins and this year there are ten players involved in our mini-league, including a surprise entry from Nancy for the first time. Nancy's team was thrown together at the last minute, with a little help from her friends, but as you can see she cruised to the top of the table in week one. The reigning champion is Ross, who is already looking up at Nancy in the standings, although it is a marathon not a sprint.

#	Team	Manager	GW	TOT
	1	Down on Downing	Nancy Shears	59	59
	2	Reigning Chumps	Ross Shears	56	56
	2	Travelling Bum	Emily King	56	56
	2	Viva de Ryan	Ryan Preisman	56	56
	5	Los Merengues	John Greenhalgh	55	55
	6	Holding Up The Rest	kris king	53	53
	7	BOOGAS ARMY	ian cullen	49	49
	8	Wildcards R Us	Geoff Preisman	48	48
	9	Sea Biscuits	Laura Shears	40	40
	10	Coming From Behind	Scott Shears	37	37
	11	Login Failed United	Sean Blair	35	35

Thank You for Your Support

Nancy here....
I just wanted to send out a BIG thank you for you support and donations. I have hit my fundraising target so now there is nothing between me and the triathlon on Labour Day. Under four weeks to go....wish me luck.
Nancy

Thank you for your generous support in making a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. Your help and encouragement will help get me to the finish line of the Vancouver Triathlon (BC); but more importantly, you are helping to accelerate cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and bring increased hope to the patients and families who are on the front lines of the battle against these diseases.

You can learn more about my efforts and continue your support of the Society by visiting my Web site: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/StartUp.aspx?EID=66254&Lang=en-CA

Vancouver Tennis Open

Thanks to the MB North Vancouver dealership, we had VIP tickets to the Vancouver Tennis Open on Saturday. A chance for Sam to see professional tennis up close for the first time. As you may have seen from a recent blog post, he was fascinated by Wimbledon 2011 on the television. This tennis tournament is part of USTA Pro Circuit and this year there were a few Brits in contention for the Men's singles title, including Alex Bogdanovic and James Ward.

In the Summer sunshine, we watched the men's semi-finals with James Ward (Brit) versus Vasek Pospisil (local Canadian). Sam managed to stay quiet for about five games, until the need for food was too much. What he missed out on was James Ward putting down the local boy 6-4, 7-5, in spite of a partisan crowd. I was the lone voice cheering for the Brit and he made the Sunday final with some top shots. He went onto win the tournament against the number one seed.

Sam Photo

Sam is over five months old now and starting to teeth, most importantly he is sleeping through the night. This is my favourite picture of him from the last couple of weeks and so I thought I would share on the blog. Enjoy.

Bre and Kielan's Wedding Day

We had the pleasure of attending Bre and Kielan's wedding as honored guests on Saturday 30th July. It was a gorgeous event highlighted by the Summer sunshine and the fantastic scenic view. The setting at Mill Bay reminded Nancy and I of Poets Cove on Pender Island some three years ago. The ceremony itself was beautiful and included the release of Monarch butterflies by the Page Boys and Flower Girls. This begged the question how do you coax a butterfly into a little, white box - answers on a postcard. Another highlight from the event (well, for me anyway) was the "pick & mix" sweet (candy) selection that was situated very close to our dining table.

Many congratulations to Bre and Kielan and all our best wishes for your future happiness as Husband and Wife.

My First Golf Trophy

The other weekend I played in my first golf tournament of the year, which was an employee charity event raising funds for breast cancer. One of my colleagues organises this event annually and approximately eighty people attend. This year the golf course was at a place called Furry Creak Golf and Country Club which is situated near Squamish on the highway to Whistler. Although I have hardly played golf this year, apart from crushing Ross at the Stanley Park Pitch and Putt course in May, these 18 holes were to produce my first ever golf trophy (probably my last as well).

It was on the sixth hole on a par 3 and I hit the ball with a hybrid club, it dropped onto the green about a foot and half from the flag. We marked the ball placement but figured that as we were one of the early groups through the hole, someone would beat it. Turned out that my flukey shot was enough to take home the glass trophy (see photo). I even managed to get a birdie on another hole and achieved a round of 102 shots. So I should retire now from golf and enjoy the success.

Nancy completes her First Triathlon

Last Sunday, Nancy completed her first triathlon. As you are probably aware, Nancy has been training to complete a sprint distance triathon on September 5th at Stanley Park. She has joined the Team in Training group (http://www.teamintraining.ca/bc/) and has committed to raising $1900 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Canada. This last weekend, she decided to do a trial triathlon to give her some experience and to build her confidence with this new sport.

The learnings from the first race were to stay calm and relax, don't hunch your shoulders, check your bike before hand (brake pad rubbed the tire the entire way and her seat was off center!) and the running stint goes faster than you think! Nancy is proud to say she completed it and didn't finish last! She'd like to thank Kari who joined her for this event and helped distract her from her nerves and provided a celebration at the finish line. Check out Kari's blog for version of the race: http://talesofalittlefish.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/tri-tri-tri/

The next few weeks are focused on building distance into her training regime and to get out into the ocean for as many open water swims as possible. If anyone wants to sponsor Nancy and help her hit her fundraising target, here's the link - http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=3053625&Lang=en-CA. Nancy sends a big thank you to those who have already sponsored her!

The Sam Show and English Grub

It has been a while since there was some recent Sam photos and I've put together a few pictures of Sam from the last couple of weeks. I know there are a number of people out there who are only reading the blog for Sam updates and photos, so this is for his growing fan base.

Also as a side note, we were on Vancouver Island last weekend and went to the local British food shop where we picked up some old favourites (see the photo). It took a great deal of will power not to buy more, especially the Penguin biscuits!

Welcome to the Gunshow!

It has been on my bucket list for a while and last week I went to the gun range with Kari and another friend. The three of us were all novices at shooting but all were keen to test our skills and experience guns at first hand. The shooting range has the feel of a bowling alley style with its routine of checking in, but we had a friendly lady called Lisa as our trainer and gun expert.

We started with two different hand guns, which were 9mm Glocks - one with a long barrel and the second with a short barrel. These are similar to the weapons that the Canadian police use. Once we had chewed through 100 bullets between the three of us, Lisa recommended we progressed onto a high-powered rife with a red-laser sight and then a Remington 870 pump action shotgun with birdshot cartridges.

We were all slightly nervous to begin with and the anticipation of the pulling the trigger started the adrenalin pumping. However, once the first shot was released the fear of the unknown passed, it became quite enjoyable with the buzz and we weren't half bad at hitting the target. I can see how people can easily get hooked on guns and why they should be controlled.

DC Versus BC.... Definitive Answer

Having arrived on Sunday afternoon, Kari has been staying with us in Vancouver as part of her world travel tour. She is Emily's best friend and an ideal person to provide an independent view of which place is best.... Washington DC or Vancouver, BC. This is because, Kari recently stayed with friends and her god daughter in Virginia on this trip and a couple of years ago even visited Ross and Laura's house. So what is her view on the best place?

Check out Kari's recent blog article.... (sneak preview - Vancouver 1 - Washington 0). Send that to the City Points Council.
Talesofalittlefish - Blog

Long Weekend in Canada

The past weekend was a long weekend in Canada, as Friday was July 1st and Canada Day, made even better by the summer sunshine. We took the opportunity to take part in the local festival, concert and various activities laid on for Canada Day. Sam and I went aboard a naval cruiser ship, which was moored in the harbour, near our apartment and as you can see from the photo, he managed to take command of the captain's seat. We also saw a Sea King helicopter complete a fly-pass. In the evening, we wandered up the street to experience the Canada day parade following by fireworks over the harbour. A busy but very enjoyable day for the three of us.

On Saturday, we made our way to Lynn Valley on the north shore of Vancouver, where we walked along the forest trails and crossed the suspension bridge. The suspension bridge was on the 36 things list for Nancy, so box ticked and even more impressive as Nancy suffers a little vertigo. Sam was nonplus about the whole event, however, during lunch at the river the Japanese tourists were all over him for photos. Let's just say he played up to the cameras and loved all the attention!

The fun did not stop there as Sunday morning, Sam and I were up early to watch the Men's Wimbledon tennis final with Djokovic beating Nadal. For most of the time, Sam was pretty hooked - future tennis star in the making! In the afternoon we headed to see the local baseball team - The Vancouver Canadians. Who just happen to be sponsored by Smart cars. Another photo opportunity was Sam sporting his new ear defenders to protect him from the noise of the crowd.

Nancy's 36 Things

The background to the 36 things is that last year, when Emily and Kris were visiting Vancouver, we were all out drinking and being merry for Nancy's 35th birthday. A conversation topic quickly started around what things would be on each of our "bucket lists" and this soon turned into coming up with ideas for Nancy to do in her 35th year.

Nancy went onto complete some of these items and the concept stuck, with Nancy creating a new list for her 36th year. I managed to prise the list from Nancy and thought I would share it with everyone on the blog. The 36 things list has been going for a couple of months and so a few items have been completed (highlighted in green).

See the list below and please join me in supporting Nancy in her quest to complete the 36 things in her 36th year

1. Participate on a committee of a charity
2. Volunteer 15 hours
3. Have date night with my hubby once a month
4. Take tennis lessons - postponed to Sept
5. Hike the Grouse Grind
6. Walk or run the TC10km
7. Walk or run the Sun Run
8. Hike Mt. Finlayson
9. Raise $1000 for LLSC - completed as part of triathlon prep
10. Consistently do pilates
11. Get a new job or start a new business - currently investigating new business
12. Visit and cross the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge - completed 2 July
13. Book 2012 Washington Trip
14. NZ/Sydney trip - booked for 1st Feb
15. Book 2012 Chicago Trip
16. Hubby to whisk me away to Burrowing Owl
17. Visit Sun Yat Sen gardens
18. Visit Museum of Anthropology - completed 15th May
19. Night snowshoeing at Seymour
20. Tandem paragliding - trying to book
21. Ropes course in Victoria or Maple Ridge
22. MLS Game
23. Vancouver Candians Game - completed 3rd July
24. Cloverdale Rodeo - completed May
25. 2nd Annual Marks reunion - completed June 25th
26. Kayaking in Brentwood Bay
27. Butchart Gardens fireworks
28. Gunshooting in Port Coquitlam
29. Take Sam swimming every week after 6 months - course booked
30. Set up RESP for Sam - in progress
31. Baby Massage Class - completed May 29th
32. Cooking course
33. Visit Van Deusen Botanical Gardens Xmas lights
34. Infant/Child CPR course - completed June 19th
35. Vancouver Triathlon - September 5th - in progress
36. Road to Conquer Cancer Race - June 16 and 17th 2012

Racking up the Steps

When Ross was visiting us in Vancouver last month, we challenged each other to the highest number of steps taken during the month of June. The aim was to at least average 20,000 steps per day, (approximately 10 miles), but mainly to see who could win the bragging rights. We have each been wearing a pedometer to keep track since the 1st June.

After 30 days of excessive walking the results are in and Ross achieved 615,163 steps and I managed 691,101. Great fun and most importantly I am the winner! I would just like to thank Sam, as he had to endure a number of long walks around the seawall and his Dad's ultra-competitiveness.

Sam at 4 Months. Nancy Update

Sam had his four month check-up at the Doctors on Monday. He is now 15lbs (75th percentile) and 23.5in tall (48th percentile). He had his immunization shots. At the time he did very well and only cried for a few seconds. Last night, he slept 12 hours with only a 20 minute wake up for some food around 4am. (It was great to catch up on my sleep!)

He had a bit of a fussy day today and it was pretty obvious he wasn't feeling too well. His legs were very red where the shot went in, had a slight fever and just couldn't keep his food down. Luckily by the end of the day, he took a full feed and didn't spit any of it up! Nancy is off to start the laundry we accumulated today!!!

The Perfect BBQ

We experienced the perfect barbecue experience over the last weekend and certainly many points for Vancouver. The weather was bright and sunny, (as it should be in the Summer), we had a expanse of grass all around, a cricket match playing nearby, a mountain view behind us and the spectacular view of the Vancouver harbour, including the cruise ships. This scenario was complemented by quality BBQ food and our good friends - Brett and Jill. Even Sam played his part by being adorable and cute in his new sun hat. This was certainly the way to enjoy a Summer's day.

My First Fathers Day

With a new laptop now in place I can get back to updating the blog.... and last Sunday was my first Father's day. After a few presents, including a Curly Wurly, being opened we had a lovely breakfast made by Nancy. I then took Sam out for a long walk around the seawall. After three hours of walking we met up with Nancy and friends for lunch at an English pub called the Three Lions. On our walk Sam and I experienced some of the local wildlife, including racoons, sea otter and a seagull attempting to eat a starfish. In the end my first Father's day was relaxing, entertaining and most importantly spent with the family.

PS..... because I'm worth it!

Riots in Vancouver.... over a hockey game!

What started as a relatively quiet night, disheartened hockey fans flooding the downtown streets, following the Cancuks 4-0 loss to Boston Bruins. The situation quickly escalated into mayhem as individuals set fire to a stuffed bear dressed up as the Bruins mascot, this led to a nearby vehicle being overturned and set alight. People were then dancing and singing like banshees around the fire. From there, things continued to spiral out of control, as the crowd turned to looting, breaking into shops, such as the Bay Department store, and escaping with anything the could get their hands on. Numerous buildings and shops were damaged and glass windows smashed. At one point, two parked police cars were attackd, set alight and destroyed. It was a crazy time to be in Vancouver and the video clip provides some of the images from the night.

The 2011 Vancouver riots aren't the first time that the city has experienced such chaotic events. In 1994, a similar scene erupted following the Canucks game 7 loss to the New York Rangers. After all that Vancouver Canucks still have not won the Stanley Cup in their 40 year existence and the search goes on.

Canucks can almost taste the Cup!

Nerves were on edge on Friday evening as Vancouver Canucks fans flooded downtown streets in support of their hockey team. This is because the Canucks are in the latter stages of the NHL Stanley cup final, which is a seven game series with game 5 on Friday and the score 2-2. Vancouver Canucks won the first two games and Boston Bruins won the second two games, and so game 5 was critical especially as the venue was in Vancouver.

Despite a penalty-riddled first period and a scoreless streak that extended through the second, supporters of the team in blue and green stayed optimistic that they'd skate away with a win. Then in the third period, a goal for the Canucks, followed by a nervy ten minutes of strong defense to the final horn.

One more win, one more win is what is echoing around the city.... then the first historic Stanley cup win for Vancouver will become a reality and I'm sure the place will go wild. Game 6 is tomorrow (Monday 13th June).

Sam in the Summer Sunshine

The Summer sunshine has finally arrived in Vancouver, with the spring rain lasting far too long after the winter. The 4th June marked the first real day of warmth from the big yellow thing in the sky. Sam is now over 14 weeks old and is developing his own distinct personality, so enclosed are a few recent photos with his winning smile.

Also Emily and Kris have now stepped off their flight heading to China to start their world tour and we wish them all the best. Good luck to them and we look forward to seeing them in Canada in mid-October.

Ross's Trip to Vancouver (May 2011)

It has already been a week since Ross left Vancouver to return to Washington DC, after having a "very enjoyable" holiday with us in Canada. When we visited Ross, Laura and the kids last year it was billed as Washington 1 - Vancouver 0 (as noted by Google Earth), so this was our chance to improve the score in our favour. I think it is fair to say that Ross went home putting Vancouver at least 3 up!!

It was action packed week with a variety of activities and sports being achieved, including sword fighting, tennis, golf driving range, ping-pong, crossing the Capilano suspension bridge, cable car to Grouse mountain, touching snow and sand in the same 24 hours, hot tub, White Caps footy game, horse racing, seawall walk round to the 9 O'Clock gun, eggs benny Vancouver style and of course a couple of trips to Dairy Queen. Most importantly Sam got to meet his Uncle Ross for the first time in person.

It was fantastic having Ross stay with us and experience Vancouver at its best.... next time, we are hoping Laura and the kids can join him. Also in 2012, we hope to revisit Washington with Sam, so they can have a chance to level the score.

Cloverdale Rodeo

Last weekend in Canada was a long weekend with Monday as a public holiday, called Victoria Day. We, as a family, went to Cloverdale to experience the big event of the Cloverdale Rodeo. This rodeo is billed as an opportunity to catch the World's BEST cowboys & cowgirls in Saddle Bronc, Bareback, Bull Riding and Ladies Barrel Racing. I have to admit that I was skeptical and thought it was going to be very hokey, but it turned out to be good fun and entertaining. The highlights was certainly the bull riding. While the biggest laugh was the sheep riding by three year old kids, at the interval, and all they were given were hockey helmets for protection. Not something that we will be volunteering Sam for when he gets older. We also got to meet Dr. Phil (ok.... not the real Dr. Phil, but a blue screen version of him).

cloverdale_rodeo on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Wife Beater!

Sam in his wife beater shirt, just needs a few hairs sprouting from his chest to make the look perfect. This is a long weekend in Canada and so we took Sam to his first Rodeo on Saturday (pictures to appear soon).

However, today he was a true Englishman as he came to the pub with me for an English breakfast and we watched the final round of footy games from the English premier League. Multiply screens allowed us to watch all the matches live and keep track of the teams, especially who was to be relegated. Always entertaining to watch grown men cry when their team gets sent down at the end of the season. Sam was well-behaved throughout, despite, various people screaming and shouting around him.

For all the Canadians reading, we did then watch the Canucks beat San Jose in game 4... so Sam is being brought up on sports from both his nationalities.

For Nancy's recent birthday, Nancy created a list of 36 things to do in her 36th year (which I hope to publish on the blog soon) and one of these bucket list items was to visit the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. Personally, I didn't even know it existed but turns out it is a place dedicated to world arts, culture and specifically first nation culture with a number of totem poles and wood carvings. The place had a number of interesting exhibitions, although, Sam snoozed all the way round.

Sam at Ten Weeks

Sam is growing at a pace at over ten weeks old and we have had a number of people request more recent photos of him. So in order not to disappoint please find enclosed some recent pictures. He is also looking forward to meeting Uncle Ross for the first time, who arrives into Vancouver in less than two weeks time.

The Big Adventure Begins....

Inspired by Emily and Kris, who leave on their world tour at the end of this month, we have started to make arrangements for our own big adventure. On 1st February 2012, Nancy, Sam and myself will set off to Sydney, Australia and then onto New Zealand for a three week trip. Today we booked and confirmed our flights, all thanks to a bunch of aeroplan miles. Next step is to research accommodation, possibly including a camper van in New Zealand.

So any recommendations on places to stay or activities to do in Sydney or New Zealand please let us know either by blog comment or email.

First Official Family Photo

The other weekend, our little family had its first official family photo session. One of the best pictures is enclosed for the blog.

On Sam news, he is nearly 10 weeks old and weighs in around 12 pounds. He saw the Doctor this week for his first set of injections, which all went to plan and the Doctor described his weight and height as perfect for his age. Not bad for an early scorecard! (I know biased parent talking).

Baby Shower

Easter Saturday was Sam/Nancy's baby shower organised by the Player family and what a great job they did.... the turnout was impressive only topped by the food and drink. It was a matter of seconds after I entered the room with Sam, that he was taken from me and the cooing/cuddling began. I understand the afternoon was very enjoyable and a good time was had by all, the guys missed it due to drinking in the sunshine at the Brentwood Bay Lodge. On a serious note, thank you to everyone for their generous gifts, cards and presents. Although the bag with the enormous baby face was a bit worrying.

Ocean Centre in Sidney

For Easter weekend, we took Sam to Vancouver Island on the ferry for the first time and on Friday afternoon we visiting the Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney. A Christmas present from Wendy was two adult tickets to the Ocean Centre and Sam came along for the ride in his baby carrier. For a little town, this aquarium was a enjoyable experience with some colourful fish, starfish, jellyfish and urchins. Nancy delved into the touch pool for live jellyfish and sea cucumbers.

Vancouver Sun Run 2011

Last Sunday morning, I completed the Vancouver Sun Run for the second time accompanied by over 60,000 other runners. The Vancouver Sun Run is the second most attended 10KM run in the world and is held annually in downtown Vancouver.

This year I managed a time of 56 minutes which was about a minute faster than in 2010 and this was despite major congestion on the route plus a house fire at the 3KM point. Fire engines and ambulances had to get onto the route and so we were diverted on the pavement causing a delay. However the atmosphere was great and it felt good crossing the finishing line. I even managed a tennis match in the evening, winning 6-1, 6-0!

Responsible Parenting

Last week, we purchased a baby bjorn carrier for Sam and took it for a test drive to a local bar. On Friday evening, I was out for a friend's birthday celebration, Nancy and Sam accompanied me for a few sips of Stella. Plus all the English guys got a chance to meet Sam in person. Top night all round.

Sam in April Springtime

The sunshine has finally appeared over Vancouver with spring arriving, as I update the blog, there isn't a cloud in the sky over the mountains or harbour. A good opportunity to provide some more pictures of the little man, who continues to do well and has even grown out of his first outfit. The Sumo wrestler is a three times world champion who we bumped into at the Autoshow, although, Sam was not that impressed by him.

Go Whitecaps Go!! Great Comeback

Scott M and myself went to our first MLS WhiteCaps football game on Saturday and additionally it was Scott's first ever professional footy game. It was Whitecaps second home game of their inaugural MLS season and it didn't start too well for us, as the beer queue meant that we missed the start of the game and then 20 minutes of the second half. The Caps went 3-0 down to Kansas City by the 65th minute and our day was being tainted, although the punch-up amongst nearby fans proved to be entertaining. Then Scott M's comeback predication came true, with the Whitecaps staging an amazing comeback with the last two goals being scored in stoppage time. It was a great rally by the Whitecaps to a dramatic 3-3 tie and puts the team fourth in the league.

Vancouver Autoshow

This week the Vancouver Autoshow has been happening at the Convention Centre, with all the major car manufacturers in attendance. I took the opportunity to drag Sam along to his first official Mercedes-Benz event, which he was overjoyed about illustrated by his need to nap.

One Month Old Today

It has been a tiring week for Sam this week, especially after the Battle of Aunties, (see blog comments), and we look forward with trepidation on how that unfolds in the future. Sam has reached the one month mark today and very much enjoyed having Nana here this week for cuddles. He also had some "man time", as we watched his first England footy game on the television and saw them notch up a win against the Welsh. Amazing how the first four weeks have flown by for us, the parents.

Snow and Rainbows

Wednesday was the fourth day of Spring, although while I was in Toronto, you wouldn't have know by looking outside. As I woke up to a heavy snow storm with 20 cm laying on the ground - who expects snow in late March? As I was suffering in the snow, Nancy and Sam were enjoying rainbows from our window in downtown Vancouver.

Silly Monkey

I am in Toronto for work this week, but we didn't want anyone missing out of their weekly Sam photo. So here he is in an outfit provided by Auntie Laura, although, shortly after this photo was taken he puked-up on the shirt. Not suggesting that there is a correlation though!

Also his Canadian birth certificate arrived a few days ago, so it is official - he is certified.

Vancouver Whitecaps Arrive in the MLS

Playing in their first-ever match in Major League Soccer (MLS), Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeated Canadian arch-rivals Toronto FC 4-2 in the first-ever meeting between two Canadian MLS clubs on the pitch at Empire Field on Saturday afternoon.

Designated Player Eric Hassli endeared himself to his new fans with two goals for the Blue and White, while Vancouver native Terry Dunfield and Expansion Draft pick Atiba Harris also found the scoresheet on an historic day for the "Caps". Dwayne De Rosario and Brazilian striker Maicon Santos replied for Toronto FC, but it was not enough to ruin Vancouver's special moment on the grounds in East Vancouver.

Nancy and I watched the end of the second half on the web, but next stop is to get to see a game live, especially as Cap fever is about to start in the city. Now with their first match under their belts, Whitecaps look ahead to their first-ever away match in MLS, as they visit Eastern Conference side Philadelphia Union next Saturday.

Couldn't Agree More with Sam!

We are receiving a number of messages from friends saying that Sam looks remarkable like Nancy, especially in this photo. So I'm not sure I can take the credit for his cuteness now.

On the Map!

Ryan noticed recently that our Washington/Vancouver sign has appeared on Google Earth and immortalized for all to see. On our holiday to Washington last August, there was a welcome sign for Nancy and myself on Ross and Laura's driveway. Turns out the Google satellites were watching at the same time. Well spotted, Ryan!

The Many Faces of Sam

Sam has settled into Vancouver life very well this week and has been receiving his first visitors. Friends John and Lindsay came round on Wednesday for hugs and on Friday the Player family enjoyed an afternoon of cooing with the little man. Today he is two weeks old and we have more friends popping in to meet Sam later. Also all his initial medical worries have resolved themselves now.

This one is for you, Laura

As I know Laura is now addicted to the blog and demanding more Sam photos. I thought I better leave the dirty nappies and burping to one side to update the blog. Sam is now ten days old and settled in to our home life, he is feeding well and has regained his birth weight. The doctor is happy with Sam at his medical checkups, especially as his jaundice has reduced significantly and his bruised head has returned to normal. So far, so good and no disasters!

Sam and Nancy's Homecoming

Nancy and Sam arrived home safe and sound yesterday from the hospital. To enable this to happen I had to learn the intricacies of a child's car seat and continue my parenting learning curve. Our homecoming was also accompanied by a number of cards and flowers. The first night also went well with Sam feeding in good quantity and sleeping most of the night. Once again thank you to one and all for the messages of support and well wishes.

Sam Update - Still in Hospital

As I type, Sam and Nancy are still in the hospital and probably will be for another day. This is because of Sam's weight loss of 11% since birth, so he needs improved feeding before we can leave. Despite this, he is extremely cute with his facial expressions and his neck muscles seem to be very strong with all his head movements. But heh, what do I know being a new Dad, although the girls in my office are smitten from his photo alone, so some evidence of cuteness. These photos are from the last couple of days. Also thank you to everyone for their messages and best wishes, it has been great to read the blog and Facebook comments.

Sam's Birthday

Two's company, Three's a family. . .
Despite a snow storm in Vancouver, we are delighted to announce the birth of our baby boy:

Sam Robert Leonard Shears

Arrived: 27 Feb 2011 at 7.35am (PST) and Weighed: 7 pounds, 4 ounces
Nancy and I are proud new parents today and thank everyone for their best wishes.

Four Years Today. Wow!

Today (18th Feb) is the anniversary of our engagement. It was four years ago today that Nancy agreed to marry me and become my gorgeous wife. The setting was Hong Kong harbour and the champagne tasted fantastic.

Also Happy Birthday to my Mum today - many happy returns!

The Bun in the Oven is cooking

Nancy has officially finished work now at Futureshop and is is in the final stages of the pregnancy. The bump is nearly at 38 weeks and the due date of 2nd March is rapidly approaching. According to the last doctor's appointment the baby is currently weighing around 6.5 pounds, but still time to go.

We remain open to suggestions on baby names....

Very Funny Video

Check out this video clip.

I thought this was very funny and cute, especially with the star wars theme.

Muppets having sex!

Yesterday, Nancy, myself and Wendy went to see the stage show called Avenue Q. This was a birthday present to me and I didn't have a clue what to expect - all I knew that muppets were involved.

Turns out that Avenue Q's unique presentation requires substantially more suspesion of disbelief by audience members than normal: The cast consists of three human characters and a bunch puppet characters who interact as if human, Sesame Street-style. The puppets are animated and voiced by actor/puppeteers who are present, unconcealed, onstage, but remain "invisible" relative to the storyline.

The characters face real-world problems; they use abundant profanity in dialogue and musical lyrics; there are episodes of "full puppet nudity" (and puppet sex); and many songs and sub-plots address decidedly adult themes, such as racism, pornography, homosexuality and schadenfreude. We all really enjoyed the show but this was certainly not Sesame Street for kids.

Attached is a link to a online video for a taster Avenue Q Video

First Baby Related Post

Admittedly it is not as exciting as a Spork, but at least our first baby purchase of a stroller (aka a buggy) will keep Anthony's mind entertained for a little while. I have to say the easiest part was buying the thing, putting it together was a major mind-bending task. Thanks to Nancy and a YouTube video it is now ready to go.

Nancy is at 34 weeks and counting!

Heading Back to Work

My weeks holiday is coming to an end and I head back to work on Wednesday, however, I thought I would share some positive news which makes my role a little better in 2011. Some of you are aware at the end of 2010 Mercedes-Benz Canada and BMW Canada were dueling for the sales lead in the premium car market and for most of the last decade BMW has prevailed every year. Not anymore... MB Canada became the country’s most popular luxury car company after edging perennial leader BMW Group Canada.

Mercedes-Benz sales jumped 15.6 per cent to a record 28,065 vehicles last year from 2009 while BMW volumes climbed 10 per cent to 27,202 in the same period. So working most of my birthday contributed in some small way to this success and we gained an extra day of vacation from the company.

Only problem now is that we start all over again now!

The Adventure Begins.....

Emily and Kris have announced plans for their 2011 adventure to travel the globe. Starting at the end of May, their plan is to travel across South East Asia for approximately 3 months, then a couple of months in Australia and New Zealand and then Vancouver to stay with us, before finally travelling across the states to Ross and Laura and co in time for Christmas. One last adventure in the New Year will be to travel up to Niagara Falls before heading back to the UK in February 2012!!

Inspired by our CodenameWFNS blog, Emily and Kris have created their own blog to keep everyone updated and informed of their trip. Check it out for all the details. http://jumpedupholiday.blogspot.com/

We are wishing them every success for the trip and are envious of all the fantastic experiences that lay ahead of them.

Whistler Winter Wonderland

We arrived in Whistler late yesterday for a few days of relaxation in the winter wonderland. As everyone probably knows Whistler was the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics. On my first day on the slopes I came across these Olympic rings on one of the ski runs.

Time now for a hot tub.

New Years Day on Cypress Mountain

For New Years Day this year we decided to head up to Cypress Mountain to do some snow-shoeing with a couple of friends. The conditions were perfect, snow everywhere, crisp fresh mountain air with clear blue skies. We wondered along the various snowshoe trails for a couple of hours, including a pit-stop for hot chocolate. This exercise was followed up by some brunch in Horseshoe Bay.

This was certainly a more sedate and enjoyable activity, compared with last years New Years Day which involved the Polar Bay swim in the pouring Vancouver rain. Although we did miss Anthony!